05/23/2026
I wasn’t going to share this video for a couple of reasons.
First, I look like I haven’t slept in a week. (Truth.)
Second, it’s pretty personal. I recorded it for Don to see because he was at work the morning JB died .. until he found coverage for work he had to be there.. I was trying to keep myself together but not doing it very well alone ..
Jb was the worse he had been that entire morning and I knew it was time to give him a soft landing .
This is a short video the last hour before we said goodbye to our terrorist while we were waiting for Don to get home from work . I made it because I don’t think Don would have believed me if I hadn’t .
Jackson Browne was not a cuddly dog. He didn’t want to be held. He didn’t want to be loved on. He wasn’t the kind of dog that licked your face or showered you with affection. The few photos you’ve seen of him doing that were rare exceptions. He actually would nip us for trying to
Pick him up .
Yesterday morning, before we left for the vet, he was restless. Panting. Pacing. Running into things. Falling over. Confused and blind.
I sat on the floor with him for a while, trying to calm him down. I fed him hot dogs and scrambled eggs. Eventually my back started hurting, so I gave up and sat down in my chair. He continued the pacing and the tremors .
That’s when he walked over and put his paws on my knees.
For most dogs, that wouldn’t mean much. For Jackson Browne, it meant everything.
He was more of an “I’m going to stand in the middle of the floor and growl at you until you get up and do something for me” kind of dog.
But he stood there quietly, looking for me.
After a minute, I thought, “I’m going to try to pick him up.” I used to be able to hold him when he was younger, but not as he aged. This was a rare moment, and one of our last together.
So I did.
I grabbed his blanket from the floor, wrapped him up, and settled him in my lap.
And he settled right down.
No pacing. No panting. No restlessness… and he didn’t bite me for a change .
He just cuddled in.
We sat there together, wrapped in that blanket, sharing one last quiet moment. We got in the car and went to Centralia Animal Hospital, where Dr. Gaffney did a beautiful job with him and with us . I don’t remember the vet techs name but she was so sweet and kept checking in on us . Dr. G sedated him heavily and I got to hold him like a baby and look at his cute feet and face . There were a lot of tears .. I’m not ashamed . There was a lot of love so there are going to be lots of tears .
I think JB .. he knew it was time to go and he kissed me before he left this world . He knew I always wanted him to be a cuddler .. and he refused , except for this time .
I am totally sure that dogs are in heaven .. what kind of God would leave them out .
Bear with us … this is rough.
